Turning Trash into Treasure

Waste management has emerged as one of the most pressing environmental and social challenges of our time. In most areas, garbage is simply collected and dumped, without any real effort to recover materials that could be reused or recycled. Experts estimate that more than 90% of the waste we generate can be reused or recycled if it is properly collected, sorted and treated.

Take landfill sites like Sisdole and Banchare Danda in Nuwakot for example. These sites handle waste from five to six districts, including the entire Kathmandu Valley. But they still follow the same outdated approach of dumping mixed waste. Biodegradable waste is left to rot in the open, releasing methane gas that pollutes the air and leachate that contaminates soil and water. Valuable land is being degraded day by day, and the problem is only growing.

Currently, municipalities are responsible for collecting solid waste and transporting it to these landfill sites. But what if we decentralized that model, moving waste processing closer to the source. What if each ward handled its own biodegradable waste, using a mechanized 24-hour composting machine to produce compost locally?

The Kathmandu Valley alone produces about 1,200 tons of waste daily. Around 60% of this is biodegradable, which is about 720 tons. If even 20% of this waste were converted into compost, we would produce 144 tons of compost every day. This alone could supplement, if not fully meet, the compost requirements of the whole country.

In towns and cities throughout the country, most household waste still ends up in open spaces, riverbanks or poorly managed landfills. Organic waste is usually mixed with plastics, glass and other materials, creating bad smells, attracting pests, and polluting soil and water. People still follow a “throw and forget” habit, where waste is collected and dumped without sorting or treatment.

A promising solution to this problem is the waste-to-compost machine that can turn organic waste into compost in just 24 hours without any human handling. These machines work automatically and can be customized according to the type and amount of waste, as well as the available budget.

The Need for Technology Adoption

In Nepal, many solutions for waste management have been discussed on paper only. Policies encourage segregation, recycling and composting, but in practice, only a negligible number of households and institutions follow them. The reasons are clear — lack of awareness, weak infrastructure, limited municipal support, and, most importantly, the absence of simple and reliable tools that can be used at the source. If communities, markets, restaurants, hotels, schools and offices could process their organic waste on-site, it would reduce the burden on city waste systems and create valuable compost.

The right technology can make a difference. The goal is not to use expensive or complicated systems but to use solutions that are easy to operate, compact, hygienic and efficient. A good waste composting machine should work without bad smells, without attracting pests and without releasing harmful gases.

Understanding the Modern Composting Machine

The modern composting machine is designed to turn biodegradable waste into ready-to-use compost in just 24 hours. It is completely enclosed, noiseless, odorless and has no chimney because it produces no harmful gas emissions. Instead, it uses an anaerobic process, where the waste is gently dried and decomposed under a controlled temperature.

The outer body of the machine is made from stainless steel or mild steel, based on the client’s needs and budget. Inside, a layer of thermal oil circulates to maintain the correct temperature. Large rotating blades keep the waste moving so it breaks down evenly. For best compost quality, a mix of about 20% wooden dust and chicken or poultry waste is added, which naturally balances nitrogen and other nutrients.

A key component is the shredder, which can be customized according to the type of waste. For example, processing buffalo bones requires heavy-duty blades, while vegetable market waste needs lighter blades.

The composting process begins with the safe input of organic waste into the machine, eliminating the need for direct human contact. Once inside, a built-in shredder grinds the waste into small pieces to accelerate decomposition. The shredded material is then gently dried and decomposed at a controlled temperature. Throughout the process, rotating blades continuously mix the contents to ensure uniform composting. Within just 24 hours, the waste is transformed into high-quality compost.

Benefits of This Technology

● Cleaner environment – Reduces open dumping and landfill pressure.

● No smell, no pests – Enclosed operation prevents odors and insect problems.

● No harmful gases – Works without combustion or gas release.

● Faster results – Compost ready in a single day.

● Supports agriculture – Provides farmers with natural, nutrient-rich fertilizer.

● Customizable design – Fits different waste types, volumes, and budgets.

● Reduce Transportation- Reduce, Labor and Transportation cost

Why This Matters for Nepal?

By using composting machines, Nepal can solve two problems at once — waste management and soil health improvement. Instead of leaving waste to rot in landfills for weeks, producing bad smells and dangerous gases, we can turn it into a valuable product in less than 24 hours.

This change also requires rethinking how waste collection is managed. Instead of sending all waste to central landfills, municipalities could decentralize the process so that each ward takes responsibility for its own segregated organic waste. With a mechanized 24-hour composting machine in place, wards could process their waste locally, reduce transportation costs and produce fresh compost for agricultural use.

These machines can be used in markets, hotels, schools and communities. They are clean, quiet and adaptable. Most importantly, they can help us move from a “throw away” culture to a “process and reuse” mindset, making our cities cleaner and our agriculture stronger.

Conclusion

Nepal’s waste problem is urgent, but also an opportunity. With the right technology, we can stop seeing biodegradable waste as a burden and start using it as a resource. The composting machine is one such tool — simple, effective and perfectly suited to our needs. By adopting it widely, we can reduce landfill use, improve public health and provide our farmers with high-quality compost.

This opinion article was originally published in September 2025 issue of New Business Age Magazine.